Written Answers Friday 17 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been provided to drug and alcohol action teams in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: The table details the total funding provided to health boards to directly support the work of Drug and Alcohol Action Teams in Scotland:

  

 NHS Board
2000-01 (£)
2001-02 (£)
2002-03 (£)
2003-04 (£)
2004-05 (£)


 Argyll and Clyde
 110,000
 174,098
 178,549
 178,549
 178,549


 Ayrshire and Arran
 110,000
 169,278
 173,139
 173,139
 173,139


 Borders
 80,000
 113,154
 115,077
 115,077
 115,077


 Dumfries and Galloway
 80,000
 117,096
 120,048
 120,048
 120,048


 Fife
 110,000
 167,026
 168,963
 168,963
 168,963


 Forth Valley
 110,000
 159,826
 161,413
 161,413
 161,413


 Grampian1
 110,000
 229,384
 231,192
 231,192
 231,192


 Greater Glasgow*
 110,000
 221,140
 232,070
 232,070
 232,070


 Highland
 110,000
 153,156
 157,078
 157,078
 157,078


 Lanarkshire
 110,000
 187,574
 190,287
 190,287
 190,287


 Lothian2
 110,000
 277,374
 280,687
 280,687
 280,687


 Orkney
 65,000
 89,638
 90,819
 90,819
 90,819


 Shetland
 65,000
 89,966
 90,983
 90,983
 90,983


 Tayside3
 110,000
 215,998
 222,499
 222,499
 222,499


 Western Isles
 65,000
 90,398
 92,199
 92,199
 92,199


 Total
 1,455,000
 2,455,006
 2,505,003
 2,505,003
 2,505,003



  Notes:

  * - Greater Glasgow has a separate Drug Action Team and Alcohol Action Team, the combined total has been provided.

  1 – Grampian NHS Board comprises Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  2 – Lothian NHS Board comprises East Lothian, Edinburgh City, Midlothian and West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  3 – Tayside NHS Board comprises Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  In addition the Executive provides significant resources to key partner agencies of the drug and alcohol action teams to address drug and alcohol problems in their areas. Drug and Alcohol Action Teams must account for the use of these resources in their annual Corporate Action Plans.

  NHS Boards received the following ring-fenced resources for drug and alcohol treatment:

  

 NHS Board
2000-01 (£000)
2001-02 (£000)
2002-03 (£000)
2003-04 (£000)
2004-05
  (£000)


 Argyll and Clyde
 984
 1,111
 1,338
 1,338
 2,265


 Ayrshire and Arran
 609
 737
 687
 687
 1,249


 Borders
 118
 160
 162
 162
 255


 Dumfries and Galloway
 124
 298
 258
 258
 379


 Fife
 514
 698
 789
 789
 1,028


 Forth Valley
 226
 462
 557
 557
 733


 Grampian1
 1,085
 1,283
 1,313
 1,313
 2,176


 Greater Glasgow*
 3,670
 4,387
 4,488
 4,488
 6,155


 Highland
 181
 300
 414
 414
 575


 Lanarkshire
 607
 862
 1,449
 1,449
 1,769


 Lothian2
 2,922
 3,214
 3,539
 3,539
 4,055


 Orkney
 20
 24
 32
 32
 101


 Shetland
 42
 46
 55
 55
 125


 Tayside3
 1,225
 1,348
 1,483
 1,483
 1,727


 Western Isles
 25
 43
 87
 87
 159


 Total
 12,352
 14,973
 16,951
 16,951
 22,751



  Notes:

  1. – Grampian NHS Board comprises Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  2. – Lothian NHS Board comprises East Lothian, Edinburgh City, Midlothian and West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  3. – Tayside NHS Board comprises Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  Local authorities also received resources earmarked for drugs rehabilitation, totalling £6.8 per annum. This is detailed in the following table with local authorities grouped by NHS board area:

  

 NHS Board
 Local Authority
2000-01 (£000)
2001-02 (£000)
2002-03 (£000)
2003-04 (£000)
2004-05 (£000)


 Argyll and Clyde
 Argyll and Bute
 0
 119
 119
 119
 119


 Inverclyde
 0
 113
 113
 113
 113


 Renfrewshire
 0
 235
 235
 235
 235


 East Renfrewshire%
 0
 119
 119
 119
 119


 West Dunbartonshire%
 0
 126
 126
 126
 126


 Ayrshire and Arran
 East Ayrshire
 0
 161
 161
 161
 161


 North Ayrshire
 0
 185
 185
 185
 185


 South Ayrshire
 0
 152
 152
 152
 152


 Borders
 Borders
 0
 141
 141
 141
 141


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 195
 195
 195
 195


 Fife
 Fife
 0
 464
 464
 464
 464


 Forth Valley
 Clackmannanshire
 0
 65
 65
 65
 65


 Falkirk
 0
 192
 192
 192
 192


 Stirling
 0
 113
 113
 113
 113


 Grampian1
 Aberdeen City
 0
 282
 282
 282
 282


 Aberdeenshire
 0
 302
 302
 302
 302


 Moray
 0
 113
 113
 113
 113


 Greater Glasgow*
 Glasgow City
 0
 812
 812
 812
 812


 East Dunbartonshire
 0
 147
 147
 147
 147


 East Renfrewshire%
 0
 119
 119
 119
 119


 West Dunbartonshire%
 0
 126
 126
 126
 126


 South Lanarkshire%
 0
 408
 408
 408
 408


 North Lanarkshire%
 0
 436
 436
 436
 436


 Highland
 Highland
 0
 277
 277
 277
 277


 Lanarkshire
 North Lanarkshire%
 0
 436
 436
 436
 436


 South Lanarkshire%
 0
 408
 408
 408
 408


 Lothian2
 East Lothian
 0
 120
 120
 120
 120


 Edinburgh City
 0
 600
 600
 600
 600


 Midlothian
 0
 108
 108
 108
 108


 West Lothian
 0
 205
 205
 205
 205


 Orkney
 Orkney
 0
 26
 26
 26
 26


 Shetland
 Shetland
 0
 30
 30
 30
 30


 Tayside3
 Angus
 0
 146
 146
 146
 146


 Dundee City
 0
 192
 192
 192
 192


 Perth and Kinross
 0
 178
 178
 178
 178


 Western Isles
 Western Isles
 0
 37
 37
 37
 37



  Notes:

  % - Only a percentage of the local authority lies within the NHS Board area.

  1. – Grampian NHS Board comprises Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  2. – Lothian NHS Board comprises East Lothian, Edinburgh City, Midlothian and West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

  3. – Tayside NHS Board comprises Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

Child Care

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many child care workers are male, expressed also as a percentage of the total child care workforce.

Euan Robson: Within the early years and child care workforce, 2% of staff, 650 workers, are male. This information is available publicly from the Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication – Pre-school and Childcare Workforce Statistics 2004 and is available on the Scottish Executive website.

Child Care

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits would be of increasing the number and percentage of male child care workers and what proposals it has for such increases.

Euan Robson: Men working in early years and child care ensures that children have role models of both sexes.

  We want to have a workforce that better reflects the society we live in and to move away from the traditional image of early years and childcare as women’s work. The National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce is examining these issues. I look forward to receiving their report later this year.

  The Scottish Executive currently provides funding support to Men in Childcare, a voluntary organisation, which recruits men into childcare training. This work began in Edinburgh and is now expanding to other areas of the country.

Cities

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16516 by Mr Tom McCabe on 23 May 2005, why Perth qualified for funds from the Scottish Safe City Centres Initiative but not from the Cities Growth Fund.

Mr Tom McCabe: Perth was invited to participate in the Safe City Centres Initiative alongside Scotland’s six cities because it already had key elements in place such as CCTV, Radiolink and centre management structures, which could best support the model being piloted. Hugh Henry announced on 7 June 2005 that the Initiative is now operating in another eleven urban areas throughout Scotland (Falkirk, Paisley, East Kilbride, Invergordon, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Fraserburgh, Musselburgh, Tranent, Glenrothes and Peterhead).

  I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16516 on 23 May 2005 for the reasons why the Cities Growth Fund was allocated to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling and Inverness. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Council Tax

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total income has been from council tax in each year since 1993.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is given in Table13 of Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 1998-99 (for years 1993-1994 to 1998-99) and Table S3 of Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 2003-04 (for years 1999-2000 to 2003-04). These documents were published by the Scottish Executive in 2000 and 2005 respectively, and copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 11910 and 35476 respectively).

Council Tax

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rise in an average band D property council tax bill has been since 1993.

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rise in council tax has been in each year since 1993.

Tavish Scott: The following table shows, for each year from 1993-94 to 2005-06 the Scotland Average Band D Council Tax, and the percentage increase from the previous year.

  

 Year
Scotland Average Band D Council Tax1(£)
 Percentage Increase


 1993-94
 556
 -


 1994-95
 588
 5.8%


 1995-96
 624
 6.1%


 1996-97
 708
 13.4%


 1997-98
 783
 10.7%


 1998-99
 827
 5.5%


 1999-2000
 849
 2.7%


 2000-01
 886
 4.4%


 2001-02
 929
 4.9%


 2002-03
 971
 4.5%


 2003-04
 1,009
 3.9%


 2004-05
 1,053
 4.4%


 2005-06
 1,094
 3.9%



  Note: 1. Excludes water and sewerage charges.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11501 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 January 2001, what percentage of (a) recorded crime was committed and (b) the population lived in each police force area in each of the last four years.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is given in the following tables.

  Crimes Recorded by the Police, Percentage Distribution by Police Force Area, 2000–03

  

 Police Force Area
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Central
 4
 4
 4
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 2
 2
 3


 Fife
 6
 7
 7
 8


 Grampian
 11
 10
 10
 9


 Lothian and Borders
 19
 18
 19
 19


 Northern
 3
 3
 3
 4


 Strathclyde
 48
 48
 47
 45


 Tayside
 7
 7
 8
 7


 Scotland
 100
 100
 100
 100



  Source: Scottish Executive Justice Department.

  Population, Percentage Distribution by Police Force Area, 2000–03

  

 Police Force Area
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Central
 6
 6
 6
 6


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 3
 3
 3


 Fife
 7
 7
 7
 7


 Grampian
 10
 10
 10
 10


 Lothian and Borders
 17
 17
 18
 18


 Northern
 5
 5
 5
 5


 Strathclyde
 44
 44
 44
 44


 Tayside
 8
 8
 8
 8


 Scotland
 100
 100
 100
 100



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

Cycling

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are in place at a national level for cycling (a) to work and (b) in respect of all journeys and what progress has been made in achieving these.

Nicol Stephen: The National Cycling Strategy set a target to quadruple the amount of cycling trips on 1996 figures by 2012. No target was set for cycling to work. Progress is measured using figures set out in Table 12.1 of Scottish Transport Statistics No 23, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33706).

Energy

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16265 by Allan Wilson on 9 May 2005, what information it has on which Scottish organisations or individuals were consulted by CORGI prior to the introduction of the Gasworks Notification Scheme.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold such information. The Gas Work Notification Scheme is for CORGI, its council and members to decide upon. The information may be available direct from CORGI who can be contacted at 1 Elmwood, Chineham Park, Crockford Lane, Basingstoke, Hants, RG24 8WG.

Energy

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving domestic gas supplies or appliances occurred in each of the last five years and how many personal injuries and deaths were reported in connection with such accidents.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold such information. This is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A table showing the number of incidents relating to the supply and use of flammable gas covering the period 1998-99 to 2002-03 can be found on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/tablegs1.pdf .

Energy

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16264 by Allan Wilson on 9 May 2005 and in light of the statements from SNIPEF and other CORGI Council members that there was no consultation on the introduction of the Complete Safety Initiative scheme, who informed the Executive that SNIPEF, as a member of the CORGI Council, was consulted, as stated in the Executive's response to representations made to it on the introduction of the scheme.

Allan Wilson: Information received from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggested that SNIPEF, as a member of the CORGI Council, was as fully engaged as other interested parties when CORGI announced the scheme in August 2004. Officials took this to mean that they had been consulted. Following SNIPEF’s letter to us pointing out that our response to Mr McIver of John Fulton (Plumbers) Ltd provided factually incorrect information, my officials wrote to SNIPEF. They apologised for any confusion caused by the earlier response and pointed out that it was never the intention to mislead or misinform Mr McIver. We wanted to be helpful given Mr McIver’s concern that no responses had been received from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), HSE or CORGI to earlier correspondence from SNIPEF.

Enterprise

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector jobs are in micro businesses and what percentage of (a) absolute GDP and (b) private sector output is contributed by such businesses.

Mr Jim Wallace: The percentage of private sector jobs in Scotland that are micro businesses (zero to nine employees) is 20%. Comparable figures for GDP and output are not available.

Enterprise

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many awards have been made, and of what value, in respect of the (a) Small Company Innovation Support, (b) R & D Plus, (c) R & D Tax Credits, (d) EC Framework 6, (e) SMART: SCOTLAND, (f) SPUR, (g) SPURplus, (h) SCORE and (i) SEEKIT programmes, broken down by year in which each programme has been operational

Mr Jim Wallace: The information which my Department holds is contained in the following tables. The Scottish Executive does not hold information on R&D Tax Credits and EC Framework 6 as the responsibility for these programmes rests respectively with HM Revenue and Customs and the European Commission.

  SMART:SCOTLAND

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 1988-89
 8
£0.3


 1989-90
 20
£0.8


 1990-91
 28
£1.1


 1991-92
 33
£1.4


 1992-93
 26
£1.3


 1993-94
 29
£1.4


 1994-95
 25
£1.2


 1995-96
 37
£1.8


 1996-97
 18
£0.8


 1997-98
 26
£1.1


 1998-99
 33
£1.5


 1999-2000
 41
£1.9


 2000-01
 37
£1.8


 2001-02
 47
£2.5


 2002-03
 49
£2.6


 2003-04
 40
£1.9


 2004-05
 52
£2.5



  SPUR

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 1991-92
 16
£1.7


 1992-93
 7
£0.9


 1993-94
 8
£0.9


 1994-95
 8
£1.1


 1995-96
 6
£0.7


 1996-97
 16
£2.1


 1997-98
 29
£2.7


 1998-99
 17
£1.5


 1999-2000
 6
£0.6


 2000-01
 2
£0.2


 2001-02
 4
£0.5


 2002-03
 5
£0.6


 2003-04
 16
£2.1


 2004-05
 23
£2.7



  SPURPLUS

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 1996-97
 3
£0.9


 1997-98
 2
£0.8


 1998-99
 4
£1.5


 1999-2000
 5
£1.9


 2000-01
 8
£3.4


 2001-02
 11
£4.9


 2002-03
 6
£2.6


 2003-04
 14
£6.6


 2004-05
 5
£2.2



  SCORE

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 2004-05
 10
£0.3



  SEEKIT

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 2004-05
 10
£2.8



  R&D PLUS

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 2003-04
 4
£8.4


 2004-05
 6
£8.1



  Small Company Innovation Support*

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Offers
Value(£ Million)


 2003-04
 100
£2.1


 2004-05
 93
£1.8



  Note: *The figures quoted are in respect of the research and development component of Small Company Innovation Support (SCIS). As SCIS is not available in the Highlands and Islands area, figures for equivalent support have been included in the table.

Equal Opportunities

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop and implement a national strategy for interpretation and translation services in the public sector for minority ethnic communities, in light of the Scottish Consumer Council’s report, Is anybody listening? .

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive welcomes the opportunity to consider the findings of the Scottish Consumer Council’s report and officials are making arrangements to meet with the council to discuss this matter.

  The Scottish Executive has also commissioned a research project to provide a national picture of the public Translation, Interpreting and Communication Services that are currently available. We hope to publish the key findings later this year and consider them alongside those of the Scottish Consumer Council.

  In the meantime, the Scottish Executive is providing £132,000 to the Happy to Translate Logo project which will be a key tool in providing minority ethnic communities with equal access to services. By displaying the logo on publicity materials or in reception areas, service providers will be indicating a willingness to provide interpreting and translation services of a certain standard for non-English speaking clients. This will also help raise awareness of services available among minority ethnic communities.

Fair Trade

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy is being undertaken to progress Scotland to the status of Fair Trade Nation.

Patricia Ferguson: A group convened by the Scottish Executive and chaired by myself, met for the first time on Thursday 26 May.

  The group includes:

  Murdo Fraser MSP,

  Michael Matheson MSP,

  Mark Ballard MSP,

  Denis Canavan MSP,

  Des McNulty MSP,

  Jamie Stone MSP and

  Colin Fox MSP.

  The group will consider how best to progress Scotland’s status as a Fair Trade Nation and how to promote fair trade products in Scotland.

G8 Summit

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of additional financial resources will be made available to Central Scotland Police to enable it to address issues arising from the G8 summit.

Cathy Jamieson: Officers from all eight Scottish forces, including Central Scotland Police, will be involved in the policing operation for the forthcoming G8 summit. We have already said that the additional costs incurred by forces as a result of their participation in that policing operation will be met without detriment to existing police budgets.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to detect the presence of illegal genetically modified organisms in grain imported into Scotland and how successful any such measures have been.

Rhona Brankin: Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the genetically modified organisms (GMO) Traceability and Labelling Regulations and the GM Food and Feed Regulations in Scotland. If an illegal GMO was found in an import of grain Local Authorities are required to inform the Competent Authority. No such reports have been made.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many empty local authority houses there are in each local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Numbers of local authority dwellings vacant as at 31 March each year are published in the Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin (Housing Series) : the most recent published figures as at 31 March 2004 are shown in table 19 of HSG/2004/4 Housing trends in Scotland: quarters ending 31 December 2003 and 31 March 2004 . This is available on-line in the published information section of the Housing Statistics Branch reference site. Figures for March 2005 are due to be published in August 2005.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average sentence was for criminals convicted of accessing and downloading child pornography on the internet in each of the last six years.

Cathy Jamieson: Cases involving the accessing, distribution and possession of child pornography are prosecuted under sections 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. However, the data held centrally does not distinguish between cases involving pornography downloaded from the internet and those where it was obtained by other means. The available information on sentences imposed in all convictions under sections 52 and 52A of the 1982 Act is given in the following table.

  Persons With A Charge Proved In Scottish Courts for an Offence1 Under Sections 52 Or 52A of The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, 1998 – 2003

  

 Main Result of Proceedings
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 20032


 Total
 9
 9
 15
 16
 26
 68


 Custodial sentence 
 2
 1
 3
 9
 9
 21


 Community sentence
 1
 2
 5
 3
 12
 37


 Financial penalty
 5
 5
 6
 4
 5
 9


 Other sentence
 1
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1


 Average fine (£)
 814
 435
 434
 688
 1,930
 1,478


 Average custodial sentence (days)
 274
 365
 213
 301
 352
 387



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes estimated data.

Lifelong Learning

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking through encouraging participation in lifelong learning to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive recognises that lifelong learning has an important and distinctive contribution to make to people’s wellbeing, to a more inclusive society and to a vibrant and sustainable economy. The Executive’s policy on lifelong learning is contained in the lifelong learning strategy, Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life (Bib. number 26050). This can be found on the internet at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/lifelong/llsm-00.asp

  Specific policies detailed in the strategy which will help to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland include: Determined to Succeed, Skillseekers, The Big Plus, Careers Scotland, Learndirect Scotland, Education Maintenance Allowances and Individual Learning Accounts.

Local Government

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Improvement Service and how much financial support it will receive in 2005-06.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Improvement Service is a partnership between the Scottish Executive, COSLA and SOLACE. Its remit is to work with Scottish Councils, their Partners and Stakeholders to improve the efficiency, quality and accountability of local Public Services across Scotland. In 2005-06 it will receive £1.7 million in support from the Scottish Executive.

  Copies of the Improvement Service’s Objectives, Programmes and Priorities 2005-2006 are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 36807).

Mental Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients currently residing at the State Hospital, Carstairs, have been assessed as requiring a less secure environment.

Rhona Brankin: As at 30 April 2005, 42 out of the 220 patients within the State Hospital had been assessed by State Hospital clinicians as being ready for transfer to a less secure environment, subject to agreement with clinicians in the receiving health board area. For 20 of the 42 patients, clinical agreement had been reached with the receiving clinicians. In these cases, the receiving clinical teams are expected to identify suitable care and treatment arrangements.

Mortality

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3695 by Susan Deacon on 4 February 2000, how many people have died as a result of (a) road traffic accidents, (b) using Class A drugs and (c) using volatile substances in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is given in the following table.

  

Underlying Cause of Deathand Police Force Area
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Road traffic accidents1
 


 All areas
 324
 343
 369
 321
 351


 Central Scotland
 14
 19
 22
 19
 12


 Dumfries and Galloway
 17
 14
 13
 20
 12


 Fife
 19
 18
 19
 27
 20


 Grampian
 40
 56
 49
 47
 53


 Lothian and Borders
 49
 57
 46
 48
 53


 Northern
 35
 37
 40
 30
 33


 Strathclyde
 119
 117
 139
 106
 134


 Tayside
 31
 25
 41
 24
 34


 Use of Class A drugs2
 


 All areas
 231
 244
 273
 333
 259


 Central Scotland
 4
 4
 5
 18
 11


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5
 6
 8
 7
 7


 Fife
 8
 10
 10
 9
 8


 Grampian
 33
 27
 38
 44
 34


 Lothian and Borders
 30
 26
 44
 33
 29


 Northern
 7
 1
 5
 5
 3


 Strathclyde
 133
 159
 148
 208
 156


 Tayside
 11
 11
 15
 9
 11


 Use of volatile substances3
 


 All areas
 3
 3
 2
 4
 3


 Central Scotland
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Fife
 1
 -
 -
 2
 -


 Grampian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 -
 -
 1
 1
 1


 Northern
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 1
 1
 1
 1
 2


 Tayside
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -



  Source: Death registration data held by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS).

  Notes:

  1. Road traffic accidents: GROS uses slightly different definitions to those used for classifying the road accident statistics collected by the police. For example, the GROS data are classified by place of residence, whereas police road accident statistics are based on the place where the accident took place.

  2. Use of Class A drugs: Each year GROS publishes a short paper on drug-related deaths. The figures in the table are based on the definition of drug-related deaths currently used in these papers and are restricted to cases where a Class A drug was known to have been involved. The figures in the answer to S1W-3695 were based on an earlier definition and are therefore not directly comparable.

  3. Use of volatile substances: A research team at St.George’s Hospital, London, also collates (GB) information on deaths from volatile substance abuse. These figures are usually slightly higher than those of GROS because, for example, they include some deaths where volatile substance abuse was not the underlying cause of death.

Non-Domestic Rates

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total income has been from non-domestic rates in each year since 1993.

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rise in non-domestic rates has been in each year since 1993.

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average non-domestic rate has been in each year since 1993.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is given on Table 13 of the Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics published by the Scottish Executive. A copy of the relevant years are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and the Bib numbers are shown in the following table.

  

 Year of Publication
 Bib. Number


 1998-99
 11910


 1999-2000
 18128


 2000-01
 25640


 2001-02
 29382


 2002-03
 32947


 2003-04
 35476

Police

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been made against each police force in each of the last three years and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is published in the annual reports of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, and is electronically available on the Executive’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1101/0006882.pdf for the years up to 2003-04. The figures for 2004-05 will be published in due course.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why on-time delivery of prisoners to court fell from 98% in July 2004 to 85% in December 2004 and what action it intends to take to address this.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The major reason was the significant expansion of operations to cover the whole of Scotland and double the number of prisoner movements compared to the start of the contract. Figures published on SPS’s website (www.sps.gov.uk) show that, since the roll-out was completed, performance has improved. The contract provides incentives for further improvements. Both SPS and the escort provider believe these are achievable, and the company will be working to deliver them.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15618 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, how often the Scottish Prison Service checks to confirm that Premier Prison Services Ltd is meeting its contractual commitments to employ one or more registered mental health nurse.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The contract places the onus on the contractor, requiring them to inform SPS of any failures to meet contractual commitments.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15431 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, whether it will provide the (a) date, (b) cost and (c) specific reason for each visit made by the Minister for Justice to HM Prison Kilmarnock in the last six years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Minister for Justice visited HM Prison Kilmarnock on 15 December 2004 and 16 February 2005. Mr Jim Wallace in his role as Minister for Justice visited on 17 November 2000.

  No information is available on the cost of the visits.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-33992, S2W-16103, S2W-16477 and S2W-16486 by Mr Jim Wallace and Cathy Jamieson on 26 February 2003, 4 May, 24 May and 23 May 2005, whether, when it intends to restrict the answer to a parliamentary question to a certain period of time, it will make this clear in future and whether it will state the time period covered by the answer.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15432 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, whether the new prison at Low Moss will be provided and managed by the private sector under contract to the Scottish Prison Service.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the question S2W-11262 answered on 28 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16642 by Cathy Jamieson on 31 May 2005, which part of Schedule D of the contract with Premier Prison Services provides details that indicate whether it gave prior written approval of the training given by instructors to new employees shown in the BBC documentary on HM Prison Kilmarnock and, if no part of Schedule D provides such details, whether it is satisfied with the answer to question S2W-16642.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Schedule D provides details of the training validated by SPS prior to the contractual opening date. This information is available at www.sps.gov.uk.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual relative cost savings per prisoner have been for privately operated prisons in comparison with publicly operated prisons in Scotland for each of the last five years and how these figures are calculated.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not available. At the time that the contract was agreed for HM Prison Kilmarnock, the cost per prisoner place was estimated to be about half that of the public sector comparator. A detailed analysis of relative costs in public and private sector provision is set out in the report from Price Waterhouse Coopers, commissioned by SPS at the time of the Estates Review, and was summarised in the Scottish Executives consultation on the future of the Scottish Prison Estate. Those documents are published and are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. numbers 20290, 20291, 20292 and 22959).

Prisoner Escorts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16508 by Cathy Jamieson on 26 May 2005, whether it will make available to the Parliament the overview from the Scottish Prison Service of the operation of the first year of the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for prisoner escort.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The report is available on the Parliament website at www.scottish.parliament.gov.uk.

Prisoner Escorts

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what standards it requires from Reliance when escorting prisoners to hospital appointments, investigations and treatments.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The terms of the contract are available on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk.

Quality of Life

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking through enterprise education in schools to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive’s strategy for enterprise in education – Determined to Succeed (DtS)  – aims to develop in all our schools a culture of creativity and ambition in which Scotland’s young people can develop confidence and aspiration. Through DtS, we have made available £86 million in the period 2003-08 and are helping local authorities to provide opportunities for their pupils to experience enterprising teaching and learning that is both embedded within the curriculum, and is delivered through specific activities; to set up and run mini-businesses, and to undertake work placements and vocational courses. All these opportunities will help our young people to develop the skills, knowledge and positive attitudes necessary for the world of work, and for life in general.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the responsibilities in respect of the collection of statistical data about Scotland are (a) reserved or (b) devolved matters.

Mr Tom McCabe: The extent to which responsibilities in respect of the collection of statistical data about Scotland are (a) reserved or (b) devolved matters, mainly follows the pattern of devolved responsibilities.

  The following table shows to what extent responsibilities of collection of statistical data are "reserved", "devolved" or "mixed" for each National Statistics Theme. "Mixed" responsibility denotes where provision of statistics is a combination of reserved and devolved responsibilities.

  

 National Statistics Themes
 Responsibility


 Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry
 Devolved


 Commerce, Energy and Industry
 Mixed


 Crime and Justice
 Mixed


 The Economy
 Mixed


 Education and Training
 Devolved


 Health and Care
 Devolved


 Labour Market
 Mixed


 Natural and Built Environment
 Mixed


 Population and Migration
 Mixed


 Social and Welfare
 Mixed


 Transport, Travel and Tourism
 Mixed


 Personnel Statistics
 Mixed

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical (a) data it collects about Scotland and (b) analyses it conducts, broken down by department.

Mr Tom McCabe: All official statistics collected and analysed by the Scottish Executive are available from, or referred to, in the Statistics pages of the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics .

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what external agencies collect or provide statistical data to it, broken down by agency and information provided.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. numbers 36818, 36819).

  Bib. number 36818 contains:

  Table 1: External agencies which provide statistical data to the Scottish Executive and General Register Office for Scotland; showing external agency and information provided 15 June 2005.

  Bib. number 36819 contains:

  Table 2: Information which is provided by the Office for National Statistics, which the Scottish Executive and General Register Office for Scotland, receive and use for their own statistical purpose 15 June 2005.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what data provided by the Office for National Statistics, or derived from information provided by the Office for National Statistics, the Executive uses for its own statistical purposes.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 36819).

  Table 2: Information which is provided by the Office for National Statistics, which the Scottish Executive and General Register Office for Scotland, receive and use for their own statistical purpose – 15 June 2005.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the statistical data that it produces (a) in accordance and (b) not in accordance with Eurostat principles, as set out by Council Regulation (EC) No. 322/97 on Community Statistics, broken down by department.

Mr Tom McCabe: All of the Scottish Executive's statistical outputs are produced in accordance with the Eurostat principles set out by Council Regulation (EC) No. 322/97 of 17 February 1997. Scottish Executive statistics which are produced under the "National Statistics" label are produced using criteria and conditions even more stringent than those set out in this EC Regulation.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the statistical data that it produces on behalf of, or submits to, (a) Eurostat and (b) the Office for National Statistics.

Mr Tom McCabe: No statistical data is produced by the Scottish Executive solely on behalf of Eurostat or the Office for National Statistics.

  Table 1 provides a list of statistical data that the Scottish Executive and General Register Office for Scotland submits directly to Eurostat

  Table 1 Data Submitted to Eurostat

  

 Description


 Agricultural Census statistics 


 European Community farm structure survey statistics


 Total Income from Farming statistics


 Milk utilisation statistics for Scotland 


 NUTS population statistical estimates 


 Routine data on vital events statistics


 Contribution of census output tables statistics


 Tourism statistics contribution to compendium publication



  The table does not include statistical data that is provided to Eurostat through another agency such as United Kingdom Government Departments.

  The Scottish Executive makes a wide range of statistical data available to the Office for National Statistics under the terms of the Statistics Concordat. It is not possible to distinguish between data that is formally submitted and data that is provided in other ways.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the statistical data it produces are directly comparable with figures produced by (a) the Office for National Statistics (ONS), (b) the UK Government, (c) the National Assembly for Wales or (d) Eurostat, broken down by (i) type of data and (ii) comparable organisation.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not routinely recorded.

  The information which is available is shown in the following four tables.

  Four tables containing information produced by the Scottish Executive and the General Register Office for Scotland which is known to be directly comparable with information produced by Office for National Statistics (ONS), other UK Government Departments, National Assembly for Wales and Eurostat.

  (a) Data directly comparable with the ONS:

  

 Business Research and Development statistics


 Annual Business Inquiry statistics


 International Passenger Survey


 UK Tourism Survey statistics


 Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 


 European Community Farm Structure Survey


 Population 



  (b) Data directly comparable with other UK Government Departments:

  

 Fisheries statistics


 Social and Welfare statistics


 Personnel statistics


 Annual Business Inquiry statistics


 Court proceedings statistics


 Homicide statistics


 Criminal Justice social work statistics


 Motor vehicle offence penalty statistics


 Liquor licensing statistics


 Firearm statistics


 Fire statistics


 Education pupil Teacher and school numbers statistics


 Education exclusions statistics


 Education Maintenance Allowances statistics


 International Passenger Survey


 UK Tourism Survey statistics


 SE Tourism Satellite Account statistics


 SE Creative Industries work statistics


 Road Accident statistics


 Scottish Local Government Financial statistics 



  (c) Data directly comparable with National Assembly for Wales:

  

 Road Accident statistics


 Personnel statistics


 Education pupil teacher and school numbers statistics


 Education exclusions statistics


 Education Maintenance Allowances


 Annual Business Inquiry statistics


 Scottish Local Government Financial statistics 



  (d) Data directly comparable with Eurostat:

  

 Business Research and Development statistics


 Fisheries statistics


 Annual Business Inquiry statistics


 Agricultural Census Statistics

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop an independent statistics agency for Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has no plans to develop an independent statistics agency for Scotland. The National Statistics Code of Practice guarantees that the Executive’s statistics methods, definitions and release practices are free from political involvement.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the statistical data that is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) but compiled from data produced entirely by the Executive or its agencies.

Mr Tom McCabe: No official statistics published by ONS are compiled entirely from data produced by the Executive or its agencies.

Student Loans

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time is for a graduate to repay their student loan.

Allan Wilson: For a 2005 graduate commencing repayment in 2006 the forecast average length of time to repay their student loan is approximately 13 years.

Correction

The reply to question S2W-13347, which was originally answered on 23 February 2005, has been corrected: see page 5304 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-05/wa0613.htm